@ golf007sd.... HDR...well the above example was shot with matrix metering, a single exposure based on what the D4 decided. In LR 4.2, I bring the shadows up, the highlights down, increase contrast overall, then carefully pull areas up and down to get the final result. This shot would potentially benefit from HDR, particularly in the way the signage is handled. In fact the sensor on the D4 is so amazing, it is possible to take "snapshots" like this one and have them turn out reasonably well. However, I may go back and shoot the photo on a tripod, stopping down the lens, HDR starting at += 3 stops, and see how it looks. Also, shooting at about f/8 would bring more into focus with greater DOF.

But, for a shot out the open window of my car, sitting in the middle of the road... the lens and camera performed extremely well. And those who encouraged me to get the 24mm f/1.4, I thank you...

msmoto said:
@ golf007sd.... HDR...well the above example was shot with matrix metering, a single exposure based on what the D4 decided. In LR 4.2, I bring the shadows up, the highlights down, increase contrast overall, then carefully pull areas up and down to get the final result. This shot would potentially benefit from HDR, particularly in the way the signage is handled. In fact the sensor on the D4 is so amazing, it is possible to take "snapshots" like this one and have them turn out reasonably well. However, I may go back and shoot the photo on a tripod, stopping down the lens, HDR starting at += 3 stops, and see how it looks. Also, shooting at about f/8 would bring more into focus with greater DOF.

But, for a shot out the open window of my car, sitting in the middle of the road... the lens and camera performed extremely well. And those who encouraged me to get the 24mm f/1.4, I thank you...

@Geoff_K - I've been doing a bit of research along with some reading on previous post in this forum and it seems the 28mm AF-D 2.8 isn't the sharpest lens. I believe it was TaoTeJered that said avoid that one. I can't speak on repair, you might have a lens out of alignment or something that is actually making it worse. Can you post some pics so we could help you out and see if the lens is performing well enough or out of wack.

Yeah the new 28mmG is a bit more pricey but it performs really well minus the donut issue.

Thank you for the reply Emceee. I do not think there is an alignment problem as it is just a little softer than the other lenses I own. Softer than I would be happy with when shot at 2.8

When you said donut issue I googled and this lead me to a page where they compared the 1.8 with the 1.4 and I was impressed with the performance boost the 1.4 gives (from that sites comparison shots), but at ~$2k I would have to pass on that one.

I was looking for a light lens to take on vacation to Vegas. My 50mm Sigma macro is a little longer than I think I want. I HOPE to have (yet another) D800E by then and think 24mm is a good length for my trip.

I guess I will toss mine on ebay. From what you said it is not likely a problem with MY lens, just a product of the design.

@Geoff_K No worries, do you not currently own any wide lenses or just looking for something a bit lighter? Yeah that 28 f/1.4 is a beast, almost double the weight of the new 28 f/1.8 and still very pricey.

You mention the 24 and light, so I assume you're talking about the 24 f/2.8D. I think it is a little better than the 28D but not really better at f/2.8. None of these D lenses are going to compete with msmoto's new 24 f/1.4G especially on a D800 wide open. Don't get me wrong the D lenses are still worthy of a purchase because stopped down to f/5.6-f/8 they are super sharp, they are just a little soft in the corners wide open.

golf007sd said:
"Looking forward to seeing the amazing blown out back ground this lens can do on a close up subject at 1.4".

Your wish is my command golf! You will never realise how much effort went in to trying to show you this shot. I opened a flickr account just for you, and then had to follow msmoto's instructions on how to post my FIRST EVER photo on the forum!!!

Woohoo it worked ;-) Does this mean I now have no excuse for not contributing to the PAD thread?

By the way, the above shot was taken on my D3s straight out of the camera obviously at f1.4. I also have not got round yet to trying to adjust my focus as others have mentioned. The edge of the glass seems pretty sharp to me, does anyone have any comments?

Suggestions? First, glad my instructions worked. Second, yes you must now post to PAD. And third, I think your lens also back focuses and I am guessing it is about a -15 on the D3s. The focal point, of course is unknown by me, but the chocolate mousse appears sharp while the front edge of the glass is soft.... but again, I did not focus the camera, thus I am only guessing.

Thanks for the photo...I really like this and while I had initially thought I wanted a 28mm...I am absolutely thrilled with this new 24mm. Not eating for a month, but still, the effect of shallow DOF with a wide lens is exciting.

As to the comments on the 28mm f/2.8....this thread is in a way about all of these wide lenses as best I can figure. Even the 20mm f/2.8 is in the ballgame. When we switch from DX to FX, a 24mm is a 35mm or "normal" lens on DX for the old Speed Graphic folks. So, it is really about wide lenses being discussed and IMO we can all learn from each others experience.

From early on in me having the 24mm f/1.4 - not wide open here, but still the DoF + wide angle yields beautiful bokeh. I can definitely clean this shot up more with LR4, with the added chromatic aberration correction abilities.

I haven't used this lens too much on the D800 yet, at least not much beyond folk dance photos. I will have to try it out more wide open and see what I can do with it now.

SkintBrit said:
Your wish is my command golf! You will never realise how much effort went in to trying to show you this shot. I opened a flickr account just for you, and then had to follow msmoto's instructions on how to post my FIRST EVER photo on the forum!!!

Woohoo it worked ;-) Does this mean I now have no excuse for not contributing to the PAD thread?

By the way, the above shot was taken on my D3s straight out of the camera obviously at f1.4. I also have not got round yet to trying to adjust my focus as others have mentioned. The edge of the glass seems pretty sharp to me, does anyone have any comments?

Hats off to you buddy for taking the time to address my request...so for that Thank You. Now you do have to make a change to your Flickr account so we can also post comments there as well. And yes you now have to post on PAD...no way around it.

golf007sd said:
Hats off to you buddy for taking the time to address my request...so for that Thank You. Now you do have to make a change to your Flickr account so we can also post comments there as well. And yes you now have to post on PAD...no way around it.

You're welcome! It's something I should have got round too a long time ago, so thank you for giving me the kick up the a@#* I needed. Post comments to my flickr account? (Glazed eyes). Remember I only opened the account yesterday, haven't had a chance to personalise it yet. Any advise you (or anyone else) can give on what I should enable or disable on the account would be appreciated, but maybe that discussion belongs in another thread.

Well, I took some snapshots at my youngest son's wedding this past weekend. And the 24mm f/1.4 was beyond belief... It is extremely sharp... I was shooting almost everything at 1/160 sec and f/2.8, or so. I wanted some DOF. Here is a typical shot, 1/160 f/4.0 ISO 2000...

And, now a thank you to all who kept encouraging me to get this lens...It is worth the price of admission... And I do realize for a prime, the cost is very high, especially if one is trying to make a living doing this stuff. But, the quality which results will bring in higher revenues, IMO.

Shooting my snapshots at the wedding...first I chatted with the photographers hired to do the shoot.... having a D4 with the 24mm f/1.4 gave me a distinct level of respect...they were very nice and I had to keep myself out of the way as on a couple occasion they were getting out of my way...LOL And, my son had two photographers shooting Nikons, D3s & D600, two videographers as well.

But, for convenience I decided to use only one camera as I was a "guest" and wanted to chat with my friends instead of having two cameras to deal with. And as I was not in my usual blue jeans and shirt, instead rather a bit dressed up with all the frilly stuff, the camera was not as easily managed, but still worked well.

The 24mm f/1.4 lens is now my favorite. This weekend I will be at a car race with a pit pass and am planning on the 24mm on a monopod in the pit/paddock area, as a practice with the weight of the D4 up high so I can do the NAIAS in Detroit in January with no difficulty. I will be shooting the 10.5mm from the monopod as well, holding it about five feet above the vehicle....

And, I can eat a lot of bread and water for this lens....so I can save up for the 105mm f/2.8 VR....

msmoto said:
...First, it is not either or...300mm f/2.8 vs 24mm f/1.4...the answer is Both! :-)

Now why is it that I Knew you were going to say that. Dam it.....Ok no problem. Will get the 300 2.8 first however, given that I have the 14-24 2.8 and as well all know: it does kickass... I will hold off on the 24 1.4..for Now. He He. The 105 2.8 Micro is an awesome lens..you will love it's performance.

Side note, I would find myself hard not to get in on the action while attending a party if I had my gear with me :p

Ladies and Gent...I would like to inform you that I have officially found The Black Hole. If there was every any lens that Nikon has made that suck in as much light as a Black Hole...it is the Nikon 24mm 1.4G. This monster of a lens is "pure Awesomeness!" Can't wait to spend a full day shooting with it this coming Sunday with birdman.

Congratulatons Golf. Can I now officially prefix your username to become skintgolf007sd? :-) Be careful with that black hole, if I see reports of the lights going out in your part of the world, I'll know you're out shooting!

@SkintBrit: LOL One thing is for sure...there is no way one can shoot this lens on a bright day without some sort of ND or CPL on the lens in order to reduce the amount of light it is sucking in. Even at 1/8000 and -2EV I'm still overexposed (no filers). He He.

Wait a minute....I have this balanced by the Black Hole in North Carolina........ Congratulations, golf007sd. I know for me it is like being a kid in a candy factory when I start shooting with this lens. If I had to shoot with two lenses, the 24 and 85mm f/1.8 G would be the two I would choose....

I think, for those who jump in with this lens...at the substantial invest meant....it poves itself worth every penny...which I was also told by those who encouraged me to get it.

msmoto said:
...I think, for those who jump in with this lens...at the substantial invest meant....it poves itself worth every penny...which I was also told by those who encouraged me to get it.

+1

I think those individual that have spoken to you use a special tone that also hypnotizes me as well...not sure how this is happening but their method is working. If i'm not careful I'm going to turn into TTJ and Eric with respect to my lens collection. :P